Campaign for wind turbine hub in region wins all-party support

MPs, candidates and council leaders from across the political spectrum have given their support to our Powering Yorkshire's Future campaign, which was launched on Saturday and aims to ensure the region reaps the full economic benefits of the massive expansion of offshore wind farms.

With at least 2,500 huge turbines required over the next decade in two vast wind farms out in the North Sea, planners and industry experts believe some 10,000 jobs could be created in this region if manufacturers can be persuaded to base themselves on the banks of the Humber.

Austin Mitchell, the veteran Labour MP for Great Grimsby, said: "This area has been a centre for the energy sector for a long time, and we now need to move further ahead into the new age and become a centre for the alternative fuels of the future.

"We're a natural point for this type of investment because we are the gateway to Europe and the gateway to the North Sea – and that puts us in pole position in this industry.

"Part of the Government's investment needs to involve abolishing the tolls on the Humber Bridge – we will need the labour force on both banks of the river and it's going to be off-putting for investors if they are going to have to pay for workers to move across.

"It's good to see the Yorkshire Post getting behind this – it's just the sort of push we need."

Efforts are also being made on the north bank of the Humber to bring the manufacturers – major multinational technology firms such as Siemens, Mitsubishi and GE – to a site at the port of Hull.

Hull East Labour candidate Karl Turner said he was right behind the campaign.

"It is absolutely crucial that we recognise the need to bring inward investment into this region, and especially in East Hull.

Another possible location for the manufacturing hub would be the Port of Immingham, on the southern bank.

Shona McIsaac, Labour's candidate in Cleethorpes, said: "We've already got profitable ports along the Humber, but in order to protect our economy you've always got to be looking at what other industries can invest in the area. There are already wind farms in the area but it's the scale of what's being planned now that's interesting. This is absolutely a big deal in terms of job."

Her Conservative opponent in the marginal seat, Martin Vickers, agreed.

"Needless to say we need more job opportunities, and in particular for young people in the area who tend to want to drift away –it's absolutely essential we maximise the opportunities this new industry provides."

The Liberal Democrat leader of North East Lincolnshire District Council Andrew De Freitas – who is also standing as the party's candidate in Great Grimsby on Thursday – said his authority has been working for some time to try to ensure the area reaps the benefits of the offshore wind boom.

"Unfortunately our thriving fishing industry will never come back, and what we need to do is attract new industries and draw in the investment," he added.

Ports further up the Yorkshire coast could also potentially benefit from the new industry, with Whitby and Scarborough earmarked as possible locations for the new service industry which will maintain the wind farms.

Robert Goodwill, Conservative MP for Scarborough and Whitby, said: "The fishing industry is in decline, particularly white fish, so this would be a good way of filling up these berths and providing employment for the very skilled sea-faring community."